Automatic igniter



April 25, 1932- 5 s. D. JACKSON 1,855,551

' AUTOMATIC IGNITE'R Filed Sept. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwuentov.

April 1932- s. D. JACKSON ,855,551

AUTOMATI C IGNITER Filed Sept. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 her/72670 QJack/00 WIIIIIIIIIIA atented Apr. 26, 1932 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICESHERMAN D. JACKSON, OF SEMIN OLE, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR F FORTY-NIN E PERCENT T0 E. F. WHEAT AND J. W. GLEGHORN, OF SEMINOLE, OKLAHOMA AUTOMATICIGNITER Application filed September 21, 1929. Serial No. 394,329.

Q torches, burners and the like which use gas as fuel for heat or light.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forautomatically 1gniting gas escaping either accidentally or in- ;t-otentionally from a burner thereby eliminatliti ing the possibility ofgas explosions, asphyxiation. monoxide gas and the like resulting frominoperativeness or delayed ignition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means forregulating the flame of a gas burner whereby the flame will be of agiven height regardless of the back pressure on the gas line, thuseliminating all danger and trouble resulting from gas burning at toogreat a volume and assuring the complete combustion of said gas underall conditions.

And a particular object of the invention is to provide an igniter havingautomatically operated means for controlling the pressure of the gasuntil positive ignition thereof, thereby eliminating any danger causedby the back pressure of the gas falling so low as to cause the flame togo out.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of an automatic igniter constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is anenlarged view partly in sec tion and partly in elevationof the diaphragm gate valve and component parts.

Figure 3 is a detail of the pressure contactor.

Figure 4 is a diametrical View of a moditied form.

Figure 5 is a sectional View of the pressure contactor for this form,and

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the connecting T.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a gas supply pipe with aregulator valve 11 connected therein for regulating the flow of the gasat a maximum pressure.

Connected in the pipe 10 intermediate its discharge end and the valve 11is a diaphragm gate valve 12 having reduced collars 13 and 14 at itsends. A bushing 15 is screwed in an opening 16 in the bottom of thecollar 13 and has a pipe 17 leading therefrom to a T connection 18. Apipe 19 leads from one side of the T connection to a plug 20 which isscrewed in an opening 21 provided in the bottom side of the collar 14.

A screw valve 22 is connected in the pipe 19 intermediate the T 18 andthe collar 1A for regulating the flow of the gas therethrough. A pipe 23leads from the other side of the T 18 to the diaphragm 24 of a pressurecontactor 24 as is shown on Figure 3. The diaphragm has a stem 23'carrying a contact bar 25' adapted to engage contacts 25 and 26 when thevalve is depressed. A coiled spring 26 acts to raise the diaphragm andbreak the contact when pressure is relieved.

A contact point has a wire connection 27 to one side 28 of a battery A,and the other side 29 of the battery has a wire connection 30 to a sparkplug 31. A wire connection 32 leads from the wire 30 to a contact 33serving the primary winding P and-the secondary winding S of a vibratingcoil B. A wire 35 leads from the other terminal 34 of the secondarywinding ofthe coil to the spark plug31. The second terminal 36 of theprimary winding of the coil is connected by a wire 37 to a contact point38 ofa diaphragm 39, and the other contact point 40 of said diaphragmhas a wire 41 leading to the contact point 25 of the contactor 24.

The valve 39 has a depending stem 38' carrying a contact bar 37' adaptedto engage the contacts 38 and 40 and close the circuit to the sparkcoil. The stem 38 has connection to a vertically reciprocating pistonvalve mounted in a block 52 provided with transversely alined ports 53and 54. The

valve rests upon a coiled spring 56 which urges the valve and stemupwardly, thus normally engaging the bar 37 with the contacts 38 and 40.The electrical current to the spark plug 31 is controlled by both thecontactor 24 and the valve 39.

As is shown in Figure 2 when the valve members 12 of the valve 12 areseated gas may by-pass the valve by way of the pipes 17 and 19 and mayalso flow through the pipe 23 to the contactor 24 and operate thediaphragm 24 to depress the bar 25' and close the circuit to the sparke011. By this arrangement gas escaping from the end of the pipe 10 willbe ignited. i

A pipe 51 leads from a bushing 50 on the collar 13' to the port 53 ofthe valve block 52, but this port is normally closed by the valve 55, sothat the valve 12 cannot be operated.

Thus when the regulator valve 11 is opened and the gate valve 12 beingnormally closed the gas flows from the pipe 10 through the pipe 17 andis distributed to the diaphragm switch 24 through the pipe 23 and to thedischarge end of the pipe 10 through the pipe 19. The screw valve 22 isadjusted to allow only a small quantity of gas to pass therethrough andto be discharged from the pipe 10. The gas pressure .upon the diaphragm24 depresses the bar 25 and closes the electrical circuit over thepoints 25 and 26 to the spark coil B, which. emits sparks therebyigniting the small flow of gas that is being discharged from the pipe.

An air box 42 is located adjacent and above the discharge end of thepipe 10 thereby providing for the heating of the air within said boxwhich action expands said air and causes a pressure to be exertedthrough a connecting pipe 43 to the diaphragm of the valve 39. Thepressure upon the diaphragm forces the piston valve 55 downwardly,whereby the bar 37 is moved away from the contacts 38 and 40, thusbreaking the electrical circuit to the spark coil.

The piston valve 55 has a snug sliding fit in the block 52 and isprovided with a transverse port 57 adapted to register with the ports53.and 54 when said valve is depressed. This permits gas under pressurefrom the pipes 10 and 51 to pass to the diaphragm valve 12 by way of apipe 46 connected to the under side of said diaphragm, thus lifting thevalve members 12' by means of the stem 4 The travel of the valve islimited by nuts 48 mounted on the stem. By this means the gas valve isopened automatically.

Should the gas be cut off and the flame at the end of the pipe 10 beextinguished, the air pressure in the pipe 43 will be reduced. thuspermitting the compressed spring 56 to lift the valve 55 which will cutoff the port 53 and bring a port 58 in the valve into registration withthe port 54, whereby pressure under the diaphragm of the valve 12 willbe relieved and cause the valve members to seat.

With the valve 12 closed the bar 37 will be in contact with the points38 and 40, but the bar 25 will be above the points 25 and 26, thusbreaking the ignition circuit. Should gas be accidentally orintentionally admitted to the pipe 10 the spark circuit will be closedand the gas ignited as hereinbefore described.

A modified form of the invention, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, has agas supply pipe 60 with a regulator valve 61 connected therein forregulating the flow of the gas at a maximum pressure.

Connected in the pipe intermediate its discharge end andthe valve 61 isa T connection 62 which has a pipe 63 leading therefrom to a diaphragm64 of a pressure contactor 65 as is shownin-Figure 5. The diaphragm hasa stem 66 depending therefrom which carries a contact bar 67 adapted toengage contacts 68 and 69 when the diaphragm is depressed. A coiledspring 70 acts to raise the valve and break the contact when pressure isrelieved.

The contact point 68 has a wire connection 71 to one side of a batteryC. The other side of the battery has a wire connection 72 to oneterminal 73 of the primary winding P of a vibrating coil D, and theother terminal of the primary winding is connected to one terminal ofthe secondary winding S. The second terminal of the secondary winding isindicated at 74. Terminals 74: and 75 are connected by wires 76 and 77respectively to contacts 78 and 79 of a spark plug 80. A wire connection81 leads from the wire 77 to a contact 82 of a thermostat control 83,and a contact 84 of said thermostat has a wire connection 85 to thecontact point 69 of the pressure contactor. Thus the electrical circuitto the spark plug 80 is controlled by both the thermostat and thecontactor 65.

When the regulator valve 61 is opened the gas flows from the pipe 60through the pipe 63 to the diaphragm switch 6 1. The gas pressure uponthe diaphragm depresses the bar 67 and closes the electrical'circuitover the points 68 and 69 to the spark coil D, which emitssparks thereby igniting the flow of gas that is being discharged fromthe pipe.

As the thermostat 83 is located above and adjacent the discharge end ofthe pipe 60 the ignited gas will heat the thermostat causing the contactpoints thereof to open thereby breaking the electrical circuit betweenthe spark coil and the contactor.

Should the gas be cut 0H and the flame at the end of the pipe beextinguished, the gas pressure upon the diaphragm 64 will be re lieved,thus permitting the compressed spring 70 to lift the bar 67 and breakcontact with the points 68 and 69. Also, should the gas he. cut oli" andthe flame be extinguished the thermostat will cool causing the contactpoints of the appended claims.

therein to make contac completing the elec- 5 circuitwill be closed andthe gas ignited as hereinbefore described.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well asmodifications and alterations, may be made within the scope What I claimis: 1. In a gas igniting device, a gas supply pipe, an igniter at thedischarge end ofthe pipe, having an electrical operating circuit,

,,a cut-off valve connected in the pipe, a pressure operator for thecut-off valve connected in the pipe in advance thereof, means forcutting ofi' gas from the pipe to the cutoff valve operator, temperaturecontrolled means at the discharge end of the pipe connected with thecut-off means for actuating the same,'and a by-pass connection forby-passing gas around the valve to the discharge end of the pipe.

2. In a gas igniting device, a gas supply pipe having a discharge forignition at its end, an'igniter at the discharge end of the pipe havingan electrical operating circuit, a pressure operated contactor connectedin said circuit for opening and closing the same, as gas pressureconnection between the pi e i and the contactor, a cut-off valveconnected 1n the pipe, a by-pass connection for by-passlng gas aroundthe cut-off valve to the discharge end of the pipe, a pressure operatorfor the cut-ofl' valve connected in the pipe in advance thereof, meansfor cutting off gas from the pipe to the cut-01f valve operator,tempera: ture controlled means at the discharge end of the pipeconnected with the cut-ofl' means 40 for actuating the same, and acircuit break- I ing device connected with the temperature controlledmeans and normallyclosed and arranged to be operated by said means tobreak the circuit when the cut-ofi' valve is opened.

3. In a gas igniting device, a gas supply pipe having a discharge end, acutoff valve in the pipe and means for maintaining said valve normallyclosed, a by-pass around the cut-off valve for conducting a relativelysmall volume of gas to the discharge end of the pipe, means for ignitingsaid volume of gas at the discharge end of the pipe responsive topressure in the pipe, and means actuated by heat at the discharge endfm'opening the cut-off valve.

4. In a gas igniting device, agas supply pipe having a discharge end, anigniter adfacent the discharge end, a cut-off valve in. mthe pipe andmeans for maintaining said valve normally closed, a by-pass'around thecut-off valve for conducting a relatively small :volume of gas to thedischarge end of the pipe, means for operating the igniter responsive byheat at the discharge end for opening the cut-off valve.

5. A gas igniting device as claimed in claim 4, in which theheat-operated means for opening the cut-ofl' valve operates also torender the igniter inoperative.

6. A gas igniting device as claimed in claim 4, which includes anelectric spark igniter, a source of electromotive force, a normally opencircuit'containing said igniter and said source, means responsive topressure in the pipe for closing said circuit, and means operated byheat at the discharge end of the pipe for opening the cut-off valve andopening said circuit. a

7. A gas igniting device as claimed in claim 4, includin a regulatorvalve between the inlet end 0 the gas supply pipe and the cutofi valve.i 8. A gas igniting device including a gas supply pipe, acut-ofi' valvetherein, means for maintaining said valve normally closed, a bypassaround said valve, an electrical igniter adjacent the discharge end ofthe pipe, a normally open circuit for said igniter, a contactor operableby pressure in the pipe for closing said circuit, means responsive toheat at, the discharge end of the pipe for open-' ing the cut-off valve,and means operated by said heat-responsive means for opening saidcircuit.

9. A gas igniting device as claimed in claim 8 which includes adiaphragm operatively' connected to the cut-off valve, another valveoperable by the heat-responsive means, and] connections from said othervalve t6 the gas supply pipe and to said diaphragm for communicatingpressure in the gas supply pipe to the diaphragm to operate the cut otfvalve.

10. A gas igniting device as claimed in claim 8 which includes adiaphragm operatively connected to the cutoff valve, a second valveincluding a plunger operable by the heat-responsive means, said plungerhaving one port adapted to place the diaphragm in communication with thegas supply pipe to move said diaphragm under the influence of pressurein the gas supply pipe and a second port adapted to exhaust gas pressurefrom the diaphragm to the atmosphere- In testimon whereof I aflix mysignature.

S I-IERMAN D; JACKSON.

6 to pressure in the pipe, and means actuated

